Corinne Chochem (Hebrew: קורין חכם; December 16, 1907 – September 18, 1990) was an American choreographer and dance teacher of Russian Jewish descent. In her late life she became a painter. She is recognized for her impact on Hebrew folk dance. She published two books on Jewish dances and recorded several albums of music for Israeli folk dances accompanied with dance notations.Pauline Koner, Corinne Chochem 1905–1990Ruth P. Schoenberg and Ruth R. Goodman, "Israeli Folk Dance Pioneers in North America"Naomi M. Jackson, "Converging Movements Modern Dance and Jewish Culture at the 92nd Street Y", 2000, ,p. 183
She is credited with the idea for A Survivor from Warsaw.Amy Lynn Wlodarski, Musical Witness and Holocaust Representation, 2015, , p. 14
Corinne Chochem was born in Zwanitz (the Yiddish name for Zhvanets), Russian Empire to Esther (née Gendelman) and Mendel Chochem. In 1920 the family emigrated to the United States.
In 1950, while studying in Israel, she met Yehoshua Kovarsky (1907-1967"PAPILLON GALLERY IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCED THE REPRESENTATION OF THE ESTAE OF YEHOSHUA KOVARSKY", includes a biographical sketch for Yehoshua Kovarsky), a painter, and married him. At that time she started studying painting. In her later life, after her husband died, she herself became a painter and had several exhibitions under husband's surname Kovarska.
Books 1941: (with Muriel Roth) Palestine dances! () The book contains detailed instructions, musical scores, and lyrics for 17 folk dances.Emily Alice Katz, Bringing Zion Home: Israel in American Jewish Culture, 1948-1967, p. 54 1948: Jewish holiday dances ()
References
Further reading Pauline Koner, "Obituary of Corinne Chochem Kovarska", Dance Magazine, January 1991. p. 30